Integrated push button panel for controlling aircraft instrumentalities

ABSTRACT

A panel for controlling a plurality of instruments has a centrally disposed numerical keyboard of eleven push buttons and a plurality of digital display means, one display connected with the keyboard to indicate the sequence in which the numerical push buttons have been manipulated, each of the other display means connected with one of the instruments to indicate the digital data by which it is controlled. Digital memory storage units are associated with the keyboard and with each instrument. Switching means on the control panel enables the selected numerical setting in the keyboard storage unit to be transferred to any of the other display means, while servo means directs each instrument to respond to the digital data registered in its digital memory storage unit, as may be shown by its associated display. The eleventh push button serves to clear the keyboard and its associated digital display.

United States Patent Gallant et al.

[451 Oct.3l, 1972 [54] INTEGRATED PUSH BUTTON PANEL FOR CONTROLLING AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTALITIES [72] Inventors: Reginald R. Gallant, Bristol; Roger S. Swain, Wolcott; Neil 8. Waterman, Stamford, all of Conn.

[73] Assignee: Atlantic Design 8: Development Corporation, Stamford, Conn.

[22] Filed: June 20, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 835,164

[52] U.S. Cl. ..325/25, 178/115, 325/15, 325/53, 325/55, 325/115, 325/452, 325/455, 235/l50.23, 334/1. 334/8. 334/18. 334/47,

[51] Int. Cl. ..H04b 1/44 [58] Field of Search ..325/15, 25, 53, 55,119,171, 325/183, 352, 360, 389, 452, 455,175, 176; 340/3241, 366, 381, 172.5,147, 26;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,244,983 4/1966 Ertman ..325/455 3,281,789 10/1966 Willcox et al................325/53 KEYBOARD "153 NAV l s'roasse NAV 2 109 runsloo. TRANSFER l/Z |'a //3 .01!

FIG 5 Primary Examiner-Albert .1. Mayer Attorney-Robert A. Buckles [57] ABSTRACT A panel for controlling a plurality of instruments has a centrally disposed numerical keyboard of eleven push buttons and a plurality of digital display means, one display connected with the keyboard to indicate the sequence in which the numerical push buttons have been manipulated, each of the other display means connected with one of the instruments to indicate the digital data by which it is controlled. Digital memory storage units are associated with the keyboard and with each instrument. Switching means on the control panel enables the selected numerical setting in the keyboard storage unit to be transferred to any of the other display means, while servo means directs each instrument to respond to the digital data registered in its digital memory storage unit, as may be shown by its associated display. The eleventh push button serves to clear the keyboard and its associated digital display.

5 Claims, 26 Drawing Figures COMM 1 5 COMM 2 CONTROL ONE TRANSCEIVER FIG 17 VOL. CONTROL IPKR VOL. cou'rnoi.

PATENTED B 3,701,945

sum Olflf 1a mvsmoas Reyinalcl R. gallant Roger ,5: Swain JV'eL'l S. Waterman film; 63%

ATTORNEY 3 gmm I 34 TRANSP Z5 DME Z7 2; G) 6 9 Q Q) U "9 5'5 IE1 3'5 36 37 20 comma 38 m @5 mg XTMR Au'ro-sP PHONE ,bt w p.. m u g Q 2 OFF 2 28 TRANSP 6 4 5 6 YD 40 "AV 4 g on 0 30 OFF 39 42 Q6 (9/ SBYTEST @AL 24 #:Q g OFF on u: l 1 Q 0 CLEAR IDENT 44 z J 43 v 2 46 DME (a E (9 6 2z AUTO-SP TEST VOL NORM VOL SP TEST c) SPK VOICE PHONE OFF PATENTEU nm 3 1 1912 SHEET USUF 18 SHIFT CLEAR P'ATE'N'TEnum 3 1 m2 T1 c, EA

SHEET UBUF 18 TUNE-TRANSFER 63 PATENT [DUCT 31 m2 SHEET UQUF 18 WA F9 PATENTEDuBIsI I972 3.701.945 SHEEI lBUF 18 PATENTED 0m 3 1 m2 KEYBOARD DME SHEET 1711F 1a WEE TRANSPONDER INTEGRATED PUSH BUTTON PANEL FOR CONTROLLING AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTALITIES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an improved system for controlling a plurality of radio, electronic or other instrumentalities by means of a compact digital keyboard, and for visually displaying the numerical setting controlling each. In the preferred embodiment disclosed the invention is adapted to the control of aircraft radio communications and navigation apparatus, and provides a compact control and display panel which may be centrally disposed on an aircraft instrument board for easy and convenient access by either the aircraft pilot or co-pilot. The radio apparatus which is controlled from the panel need not be located behind the instrument board but may be installed anywhere that space may be found available within the aircraft. even in the tail of the fuselage if desired.

One of the problems attendant to flying modern aircraft equipped with multiple radio transmitters and receivers employed for communications with various ground stations, or with other aircrafi, and fornavigation with the numerous navigational radio-aids including radio ranges, radio marker beacons, radio direction finders and a multiplicity of criss-crossing omnidirectional-ranges, is the necessity for frequently changing from one frequency setting to another and back and forth between different frequencies. The prior art tuning means for aircraft radio equipment has generally employed rotatable dials affixed to tuning shafts, sometimes with a gear reduction to facilitate fine tuning, but all such tuning means are difficult to operate quickly and accurately, especially under conditions of turbulance or when flying on instruments. Accuracy of tuning with dial controls may also be affected by parallax due to the angle at which the operator must view the dial. When cold whether requires the wearing of gloves, dial tuning becomes all the more cumbersome and less accurate. It is to be understood that the control means of the invention may also be extended to control such variable parameters as engine speed, propeller pitch, flap angle, altitude and course heading.

Accordingly a principal object of the present invention is to provide means for digital control of apparatus by a simple keyboard of push buttons, which need not exceed ID in number, and which may be arranged in the same pattern as the familiar touch-tone telephone controls.

Another object is to provide digital display means connectable with each apparatus or other instrument to be controlled, and operable by the push button keyboard, to clearly and positively indicate the exact digital control data selected for each instrumentality with complete elimination of parallax in viewing.

A further object is to provide a control system in which a series of digits sequentially selected by manipulation of a numerical keyboard may be stored and displayed, and subsequently transferred by a single switch operation to any one of a plurality of instruments.

A more specific object is to provide means for digital tuning of radio apparatus by push button keyboard control with digital display of the selected frequency setting.

An additional object is to provides digital memory storage means associated with each instrument whereby the frequency to which it has been previously tuned is recorded in digital form and may be recalled for presentation on a visual display by the simple operation of a single switch or push button.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of an aircraft radio control panel according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the panel of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an overall block diagram of the entire control system according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of the input section of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of the keyboard section of the control panel;

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of the shift control portion of the invention;

FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram of the gate and latch section of the control circuits;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the manner in which FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C are to be connected together to form a complete circuit;

FIG. 8 is a Truth Table" showing the gate conditions existing following each shift input signal as applied to the shift control circuit of FIG. 68;

FIGS. 9A and 98 when connected together in the manner shown by FIG. 10 form a schematic diagram of the tune transfer control circuits showing the manner in which a plurality of gate and latch sections as illustrated in FIG. 6C are interconnected;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the manner in which FIGS 9A and 9B are to be connected;

FIG. 11 is an overall schematic diagram of a communication equipment control section;

FIG. I2 is an overall schematic diagram of a navigation equipment control section;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an Automatic Direction Finding equipment control section;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a Distance Measuring Equipment control section;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a Transponder equipment control section;

FIG. 16 is a detailed schematic diagram of a portion of the circuits shown in FIGS. 11-45 showing the interconnections of NAND/NOR gates in the normal keyboard control;

FIG. 17 is another detailed schematic diagram of a portion of the circuits of FIGS. 11-15 showing the in- 

1. A system for digital control of radio frequency tuning comprising, an input selective control means including a numerical keyboard, digital storage means connected with said keyboard and adapted to record and store a number of digits as sequentially impressed upon said keyboard by manipulation thereof, digital display means connectable with said storage means for visually displaying a number of digits in the sequential order selected by manipulation of said keyboard, and digital tuning means connectable with said storage means and operable thereby to tune a radio to the selected frequency recorded in said storage means.
 2. A system for selectively controlling the frequency tuning of a plurality of radio equipments comprising in combination, A. a numerical keyboard having a digital output, B. first digital storage means connected with said keyboard for recording and storing a number of successive digits as sequentially impressed upon said keyboard, C. digital display means connectable with said first storage means for visually displaying the sequence of digits stored in said first storage means, D. a plurality of second digital storage means each connected with one of said plurality of radio equipments for recording and storing digits corresponding to the frequency to which said one radio is tuned, E. selective transfer switching means for transferring the digits stored in said first storage means to any one of said selected second storage means, and F. a plurality of digital tuning means, one said means associated with each one of said plurality of radio equipments and operable in response to the order of digits recorded in said digital storage means associated with each said radio to tune that radio equipment to the frequency corresponding to the digits stored in its said storage means.
 3. The combination of claim 2 including third digital storagE means connectable with each of said radio equipments, switching means for transferring digital data from said second storage means to said third storage means, and further switching means for selectively connecting either said second or third storage means to said digital tuning means whereby said radio is tuned to either of the frequencies recorded in said second and third storage means.
 4. A radio communication system comprising: a plurality of transceivers; tuning means connected to each of said transceivers, each tuning means being responsive to a digital input for tuning its associated transceiver; a numerical keyboard having a digital output; digital storage means connected to said digital output for recording and storing a number of digits as sequentially impressed upon said keyboard by manipulation thereof; transfer switching means for selectively transferring the digits stored in said digital storage means to one of said tuning means; digital display means, and digital display transfer means connectable to each of said transceiver and its associated tuning means for displaying the frequency to which said transceiver is tuned.
 5. Apparatus for selectively tuning any of a plurality of remote electronic units from a central location which comprises: a manually operable numerical keyboard at said central location having a digital output; means associated with said keyboard for receiving and storing said digital output; means associated with each of said electronic units for tuning its associated unit in response to a digital input; and means for selectively switching said stored digital output to any of said tuning means. 